Card-preparing machine



Oct. 28, 1969 T. v. HEBBLETHWAITE CARD-PREPARING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed April 12, 1963 NQW Oct. 28, 1969 T. v. HEBBLETHWAITE 3,

CARD-PREPARING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 1969 T. v.HEBBLETHWAITE 3, 7

CARD-PREPARING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 zww Oct.28, 1969 'r. v. HEBBLETHWAITE CARD-PREPARING MACHINE Filed April 12,1963 E m R m t mw N 2 V y M x Z n a Y rill M B \N%) Oct. 28, 1969 r. v.HEBBLETHWAITE 3,475,253

CARD-PREPARING MACHINE Filed April 12, 1965 8 Sheets-$heet 6 Oct. 28,1969 T. v. HEBBLETHWAITE CARD-PREPARING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 FiledApril 12, 1963 F7014 AOVA/VCZS United States Patent US. Cl. 156-355 20Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Individual cards from a stack of cardstravel in succession to a first station where a first operation isperformed thereon and thereafter to a second station where a secondoperation is performed and then into a storage bin. At the first stationthe card is apertured. At the second station an adhesive cover sheet isapplied to the card to extend within the previously apertured portion.Such cover sheet includes an adhesive which may be used later to mount afilm transparency. At each of the two stations there is a switch whichsenses the presence of a card at that station such that thecorresponding operation at the corresponding station can not beperformed unless there is a card at that particular station. The cardsrest on continuously moving endless belts. To arrest movement of thecard at the particular station, the card engages a stop member such thatthe stop member engages the card and causes it to remain stationary withthe conveyor belt sliding underneath the card. The stops at theplurality of stations are simultaneously released to thereby allow allcards to be moved at the same time in timed relationship with a card fedfrom said stack.

The present invention relates to a card-preparing machine and isespecially useful in modifying businesstype cards used in electricaccounting machines such that an individual card after processing by themachine is apertured and has a cover sheet mounted thereon extendinginto the apertured portion of the card for later mounting of film orother information containing media.

Briefly, the machine disclosed herein serves to punch a card at a firststation to form an apertured portion therein and then at a secondstation to cover such apertured portion with a cover sheet that overliesa peripheral portion of the apertured portion, these operations beingperformed automatically on individual cards supplied, one at a time, andat a substantially constant rate from a card-supply hopper to acard-punching station Where the movement of the card is arrested by afirst stop at the first station which is automatically released afterthe punching operation to allow the apertured card to travel to thesecond station; i.e., the cover sheet applying station, where themovement of the card is again arrested by a second stop at such secondstation, which second stop is automatically released after the coversheet is applied to allow the finished card to move into a discharge orcollection hopper. At each of such first and second stations the cardoperates a corresponding switch to initiate the corresponding punchingand cover sheet applying operations. The operation of the machine atthese two stations, as disclosed, is thus responsive to the presence andproper positioning of a card with many advantages being derivedtherefrom.

The cover sheet, which is applied to the card, is cut from a supply ofmaterial furnished as a web in roll form, with the operations at suchsecond station including more specifically the feeding of a web of suchmaterial coated with a temperature-sensitive adhesive, the cutting offof an end piece of such web, and the bonding of the same, as the coversheet, over the apertured card portion in the presence of a heatedplaten which serves to apply 3,475,253 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 or bondthe cover sheet against the card. All of these operations at the secondstation occur in substantially the same time interval required for thecard-punching operation so that the above mentioned first and secondstop members may be automatically retracted at substantially the sametime. The operation of various mechanisms of the machine is interlockedboth in the electrical and mechanical sense to assure proper sequencingof operations and uniformity in a good finished product.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to providean improved machine of the character indicated above.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide a machine ofthis character in which the timing of elements and their functions arecontrolled in addition to and apart from the speed of the drive motorfor the machine.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character involving controlled clutches for selectively applyingoperating power to various mechanisms of the machine to assure propersequencing and uniformity of quality in the end product.

Another specific object of the present invention is 'to provide amachine of the character in which the card feed is directly related totimed operation of switches.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which initiation of operation of a mechanismrequires the presence of a card in proper position.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which separate controlled clutches are used toeffect operation of (a) a timer of the cam-switch type that relates thecard feed directly to the operation of the timer; (b) the cardaperturingmechanism; and (c) the cover sheet mounting mechanism.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which the cover sheet applying mechanism has adwell period when pressure is being applied to the card.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character especially suitable for handling material having atemperature-activated adhesive coating.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which the cardpunching mechanism incorporates apunch with an angled relief in its face to produce a shear angle forreducing shearing force.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which various mechanisms of the machine areinterlocked both in an electrical and mechanical sense to assure propersequencing of operations and uniformity in a good finished product.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character using one-revolution controlled shafts for eifectingproper operation and sequencing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism for cutting off ends of web material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter in which there is no waste of cover sheet material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter in which the amount of cover sheet material cut is adjustablycontrolled within precise limits.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved control circuit for a machine of this character.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved mechanism for moving, pushing or advancing thin film materialswhich have little structural strength under compressive loading in thedirection of their planes, and does so in a precise, repeatable andcontrollable manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved mechanismfor transporting or pushing thin film materials which are subject to thecollection of static electrical charges that otherwise make suchmechanical handling, especially in automatic machinery, extremelyditficult, and does so in such manner that overcomes the otherwiseserious effects of such static charges.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character incorporating a mechanism for pushing or advancingthin web material in precisely controlled dimensioned steps and does sowithout damage or marring surfaces of such web.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character incorporating a mechanism whereby no waste or scrapthin web material is produced since the web of material when it isadvanced the desired distance, is cantilevered outward over a cuttingedge, thus requiring no gripping, pulling or mechanical guidance of suchoverhanging web material.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which card feeding and transport means operatescontinuously without stopping while cards are stopped temporarily atfunctional stations, thus achieving mechanical simplicity and longerlife than would be realized, for example, were it necessary torepeatedly start and stop such means during each and every functionalcycle.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character which requires no external adjustments, positionedcontrols or operator techniques and which can be operated to the fullestextent of its capability by an untrained, non-technically skilledoperator in typical business office environment.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character which will not operate or will stop itselfautomatically if (a) the supply of thin web material normally suppliedthereto is exhausted or interrupted by a break in the web; or (b) thetemperature of the heated platen falls below a required minimumtemperature; or (c) the supply of cards in the feed hopper is exhausted;or (d) the full capacity of the discharge or collection hopper isreached.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character which automatically processes electric accountingmachine cards, in which card feeding from the feed hopper is immediatelyinterrupted if and when malfunction or card jam occurs at any subsequentpoint in the card transport or processing system, thus avoiding damageto a large number of cards in the event of such a jam.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which the power required by the several functionsand mechanisms, oriented in several directions, is supplied by a singlerotary source, on a time shared basis, thus minimizing both peak powerand average power requirements, by virtue of the fact that all of thefunctional elements, except card feeding and transport mechanisms, areidle more than half the total running time and are operated only withinthe brief period of their action during each card cycle.

Another specific object of the present inventio is to provide a machineof this character in which no mechanical damage can be suffered as aresult of timing malfunction, line electrical power level drop orfailure, mechanical overload in either or both power mechanisms, or cardor web material misfeeding.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which manual operation of a switch, for servicing,and checking purposes, results in only one card being processed.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which card travel, card tracking and apparatuscontrolling the feeding and transport of cards may be convenientlyobserved on a slow motion basis upon manual turning of a shaft wherebyadjustments may be made accordingly.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character which is not limited in its card handling abilityprecisely to exact dimensions of a standard card.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a machineof this character in which a card may be produced with more than oneapertured portion having a cover sheet extending into the correspondingapertured portion.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide improvedcard feeding means which assures dispensing of only one card at a time.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide a.machine of this character which may be modified to produce differentsized apertures having a cover sheet extending into the aperturedportion.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. This inventionitself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, partially in section, of a machineembodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front view taken as indicated by arrows 22 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic layout of the card transport system.

FIGURE 4 shows in enlarged form a part of the card transport systemshown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are sectional views taken generally as indicated byarrows 5-5 and 66 in FIGURE 2 through the card-aperturing station andcover sheet-applying station, respectively.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 77 in FIGURE5.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken generally along line 8-8 as indicated in bothFIGURES 1 and 11.

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of driving mechanisms taken generally asindicated by arrows 9-9 in FIGURE 2 with a portion of the card-receivinghopper omitted.

FIGURE 10 is largely a schematic illustration of the layout ofelectrical components and their relation to elements of the machine.

FIGURE 10A shows elements in FIGURE 10 in different operating positions.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 1111 ofFIGURE 8.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken generally as indicated by arrows1212 in FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken generally along line 13-13 of FIGURE12.

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to that in FIGURE 12 showing the web-feedingrollers in a different position.

FIGURE 15 is a view illustrating details of the web advancing one-wayclutch illustrated also in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view taken generally as indicated by arrows1616 in FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is largely a diagrammatic illustration of the web advancinglever.

FIGURE 18 shows the arrangement in FIGURE 17 in a different position.

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged view of the web support and indicates themovement imparted thereto after a cutting and bonding operation.

FIGURE 20 illustrates a relation of the cutter, web and its support.

FIGURE 21 is a sectional view taken generally as indicated by the arrows2121 in FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 22 is a view taken as indicated generally by arrows 2222 inFIGURE 6.

FIGURE 23 is a schematic representation of electrical connections toelectrical components.

FIGURE 24 is a perspective view showing some details of the card feedmechanism.

FIGURE 25 is a perspective view showing the card urger at the punch andcover sheet applying stations.

FIGURE 26 illustrates the slidable tape engaging plate and its support.

The machine functions to feed the undermost card from a stack of cardsresting in the card-feed hopper (FIGURE 1) to a card-aperturing station11 where the movement of the card is arrested by stop to allow the punchat station 11 to aperture the card C, the punch being operated as aresult of the card engaging the actuating element of switch 14. Afterthe card is apertured, the stop 15 is withdrawn and the apertured cardis transported to the cover sheet applying station 12 where the cardmovement is again arrested by stop 16 to allow cutting and bonding ofcover sheet material over the apertured portion of the card as a resultof the card engaging the actuating element of switch 17, after which thecard is allowed to move into the card discharge or collecting hopper 13where cards collect in a stack. The card-punching and adhesive-bondingoperations are accomplished independently of each other in that theseoperations are accomplished only after movement of a card topredetermined positions where, in a first position with thecard-engaging stop 15, the card C actuating switch 14 serves to initiateoperation of the punch mechanism to form the card-apertured portion CAand, in a second position with the card-engaging stop 16, the card byactuating switch 17 serves to initiate operation of the cover sheetcutting and bonding mechanism to bond the cover sheet CM over theapertured portion. These stops 15 and 16 are automatically withdrawnafter the corresponding operation has been performed to allow the cardto be moved by its frictional engagement with the continuously rotatingpairs of drive Wheels 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 (FIGURES 1 and 3). Initiallya card is automatically fed from the hopper 10 to a position where itengages the continuously rotating card-engaging roller pair 23 whichthen serves to transport the card onto roller pair 18 and from there tostop 15 where the card movement is first arrested to form aperturedportion CA.

The various card-engaging roller pairs are driven continuously through apulley and belt system and, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, this systeminvolves a continuously rotating shaft 25 mounting two pulleys 26, 27,engaging drive belts 28, 29 for driving corresponding pulleys 32 and 34on shaft 35 mounting the roller pair 23 and shaft 36 mounting pulley 37,respectively, A drive belt 38 extends around pulley 37 and a pulley 40on shaft 41 which also mounts the roller pair 18 and pulley 42. A belt43 extending around pulley 42 drives pulley 44 on shaft 45 which alsomounts the roller pair 19 and pulley 47 having a drive belt 49 fordriving the shaft 50 that mounts the roller pair 20 and pulleys 51 and52. A belt 54 couples pulley 52 to pulley 55 on shaft 56 which alsomounts the roller pair 21 and a pulley 57 coupled by belt 58 to pulley59 on shaft 60 upon which is also mounted the roller pair 22. The maindriving shaft 25 is driven by the means described under the sectionherein captioned Drive System.

63, the output shaft 64 of the motor 62 mounting a pulley 65 for drivinga jack shaft 66 through a belt 67 and pulley 68 on the jack shaft. Thejack shaft 66 thus continuously rotates and is supported for suchrotation in four spaced bearings, 70, 71, 72 and 73 on the underside offrame plate 63. Three electric or magnetic clutches 75, 76 and 77, alsomounted on the underside of frame plate 63, serve to selectively couplethe jack shaft 66 to the cover sheet cutting and bonding mechanism 79,to the card-punching mechanism 80 and to the card-feeding mechanism 81,respectively, and the latter clutch 77 also serves to selectively couplethe jack shaft 66 to the timer mechanism 82, and the manner in whichsuch coupling is accomplished is now described.

The electrically operated clutch 75 has a pulley 84 on its input shaftcoupled by belt 85 to the jack shaft pulley 86 and has its output shaftcoupled to the input shaft of a speed-reducing unit 87 mounted on theunderside of frame plate 63. The output shaft of speed-reducing unit 87is coupled to the rotatable shaft 88 of the adhesive material cuttingmechanism 79 which is described under a separate caption herein.

The electrically operated clutch 76 has a pulley 90 on its input shaftcoupled by belt 91 to the jack shaft pulley 93 and has its output shaftcoupled to the input shaft of a speed-reducing unit 94 mounted on theunderside of frame plate 63. The output shaft of speed-reducing unit 94is coupled to the rotatable shaft 96 of the card-punching mechanism 80which is described under a separate caption herein.

The electrically operated clutch 77 has a pulley 98 on its input shaftcoupled by belt '99 to the jack shaft pulley 100 and has its outputshaft coupled by belt 102 to the input shaft of speed-reducer unit 104mounted on the underside of frame plate 63. The speed-reducer unit 104has two output shafts 105 and 106, the shaft 105 being coupled to theshaft 108 of the card-feeding mechanism 81 and the shaft 106 having apulley 109 thereon for driving the timer-mechanism shaft 113 through thepulley thereon and belt 112. Both the card-feed mechanism and timermechanism are described under a separate caption herein.

The jack shaft 66 mounts also the pulley 115 (FIGURE 10) which iscoupled by belt 116 to the pulley 117 on the input shaft ofspeed-reducer unit 118 having a pulley 120 on its output shaft 121 fordriving, through belt 122, the pulley 123 on the input shaft 124 of theweb feed mechanism 125 which incorporates a clutch 126 and a one-wayclutch 127 as described under separate caption herein.

The jack shaft 66 also mounts a pulley 130 (FIGURE 9) for driving belt131 and the pulley 132 on the input shaft of a right-angle speedreduction drive unit 133 which incorporates two meshing gears 135, 136,the gear 136 being on the previously mentioned shaft 25 (FIGURES 9 and3) to drive the card-transporting roller pairs 23, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22in FIGURE 3.

It will be apparent from the description under this caption that whilethe jack shaft 66 may continuously rotate:

1) The card-feed mechanism 81 and timer mechanism 82 is engaged onlywhen the clutch 77 is engaged;

(2) The card-aperturing mechanism 80 is engaged only when the electricclutch 76 is engaged;

(3) The adhesive material cutting and bonding mechanism 79 is engagedonly when the electric clutch 75 is eng (4) While the shaft 124 of theadhesive material feed mechanism 125 continuously rotates, thismechanism is not rendered fully operative unless the clutch 126 isengaged as described under the caption Web Feed Mechanism; and

(5) The card-engaging transport roller pairs 23, 18. 19, 20, 21 and 22rotate continuously to be always in a condition for transport of cards.

It is noted that the jack shaft 66 is formed with hexagonal ends 66A toallow the manual application of a crank for turning the shaft withoutelectrical power. This is a desirable feature of the present inventionsince, in servicing and checking of the machine, manual turning of shaft66 produces slow movement of the above mentioned roller pairs 23, 18,19, 20, 21 and 22 whereby their operation may be conveniently observedin the absence of or in the presence of a card initially hand fedbetween the roller pair 23.

Card-feed mechanism Cards are initially placed in a card-feed hopper(FIGURES 1 and 2) in the form of an open-top bin mounted on thehorizontal frame plate 63, the bin having two vertical side plates 140and 141 and two end plates 142, 143 and a bottom plate 144, the sideplate 141 being formed with a large open-ended slot therein, as shown inFIGURE 2, to facilitate loading and unloading, if necessary, and thebottom plate 144 being apertured, as in dicated at 145 in FIGURE 1, toprovide clearance for movement of a card-engaging element 146 partiallyprojecting through the floor of the bin. The element 146 having ashouldered portion 146A projects up through such apertured portion 145and such shoulder 146A extends up beyond the body portion of element 146a distance substantially equal to the thickness of one card or somewhatless so as to assure stripping of only the lowermost card when theelement 146 is reciprocated. It will be seen that the card to bedispensed initially engages the body portion of element 146 prior toengagement with the shouldered portion so that such card is referencedwith respect to such body portion and shouldered portion to assuresingle card feeding even though the angular position of element 146 maychange somewhat in its guiding structure. The means whereby element 146is reciproeated is now described.

The element 146 is secured to a guide block 148 which is mounted forsliding movement on a stationary pin 149 (FIGURES 2, 10 and 24) securedwith respect to the bottom plate 144 (FIGURE 2) and which is guided bytwo adjustable screws 148C (only one of which is shown in FIGURE 24)mounted on block 148 and engaging opposite sides of the end of lever150. This guide block 148, as seen in FIGURE 24 is provided with aslotted portion and two spaced pins 148A and 148B to provide aconnection with the upper end of this pivoted lever 150 which is pivotedon a bracket member 151 at a point intermediate its ends on pin 152.

The lower end of lever 150 is provided with a closed slotted portion 153within which a guide block 154 on a crank arm 155 on shaft 108 (FIGURES2 and 10) is free to slide to provide a form of Scotch Yoke connectionwhereby when the shaft 108 is rotated as described above under thecaption Drive System, the lever 150 is oscillated, as indicated inFIGURE 10A, to reciprocate the cardengaging element 146 and therebycause one card at a time to be dispensed from the bin 10 for eachoscillation of lever 150 through the small adjustable opening at thelower end of the adjustable plate 142A where a roller 160 is mounted tofacilitate card movement to a position between the spring-urged rollers23 and 162, this previously adjustable opening being defined by thespace between roller 160 and the adjustable mounted plate 142A on theend plate 142. The roller 23 is continuously rotated as described aboveunder the caption Drive System, and cooperating with roller 162 andgeared thereto it causes the partially ejected card to be propelled, asdescribed above in connection with FIGURE 3, to transfer it onto thecontinuously rotating roller pair 18 which, in turn, causes the card tomove further until its movement is arrested by the stop 15. When soarrested, the card is, of course, stationary with the roller pair 18spinning continuously under the card awaiting release of the stop 15. Itis noted that the roller 162 is rotatably mounted on a slidable frame164 which is urged by spring 165 to urge the rollers 162, 23 togetherfor gripping and moving the card as described above.

To assure transport of the cards by roller pairs 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22,means are provided to apply slight pressure on the cards above theserollers. Such means are indicated at 166, details of which are moreclearly shown in FIGURE 4 in relation to roller 20. In FIGURE 4 apressure roller 167 is rotatably supported on a frame member 1 68 with aleaf spring 169 anchored on pin 169A pressing on the shaft 167A ofroller 167 with the pressure exerted by roller 167 being adjusted by theset screw 169B contacting an intermediate portion of the leaf spring169.

The card hopper 10 also has a card-sensing switch 147 (FIGURE 1) mountedon the side wall with its aetuating element 147A projecting within thehopper 10 so as to contact and sense the presence of cards. This switch147 is closed only when one or more cards are in the hopper and in theabsence of this condition, certain parts of the machine are preventedfrom operating as described under the caption Electrical System.

Also, the card hopper 10 has associated therewith, a pair ofsolenoid-operated rods 161 for raising the stack of cards above theshouldered portion 146A as illustrated in FIGURE 10, when the solenoidmeans 163 is energized to thereby prevent dispensing of cards by thecarddispensing element 146.

The card-receiving hopper 13, as indicated in FIGURE 10, is pivotallymounted at to allow convenient access to cards therein. To pivot thesame outwardly, the solenoid 340 must first be energized to cause thelatch member 340A to be withdrawn. When this hopper 13 is pivoted toopen position, the switch 325 is opened. Also, the hopper 13 has mountedtherein a counterbalanced card-supporting plate 166 or bottom slidablymounted by means of rollers 167, 168 on the hopper frame member 169, theplate 166 being moved downwardly by the weight of cards and when thehopper is full, the plate 166 is moved to a position where it causes thenormally closed switch 320 to open. The plate 166 may be counterbalancedfor example, by a difierential pulley system with spring means, detailsof which need not be described since counterbalancing means are wellknown. These switches 320 and 325 and latching solenoid 340 areelectrically connected as described under the caption Electrical System.

Preferably switches such as switches 406, 407 and 408 (FIGURE 1) socalled anti-jam switches are adjustably mounted at the outlet of thecard feed hopper 10, the punch station 11 and cover sheet applyingstation 12 respectively with its corresponding switch actuating memberpositioned to contact and sense thickness of a card such that, forexample, when more than one card is present or a card is buckled, theswitch is actuated. For this purpose the switch actuating elementcontacts the upper surface of a card and causes actuation of thecorresponding switch when an abnormal condition exists to stop operationof the machine as described later under the caption Electrical System.

Card-punching mechanism During the time that card movement is beingarrested by stop 15 the card is indexed not only by the stop 15 but alsoby one of its side edges being pressed against the stationary guidegroove 173 in supporting frame 174 by the weighted and pivoted guidemember 181 engaging the opposite side edge of the card. This card urgingguide member 181 is in the form of an arcuate card engaging plate 181Aon the end of lever 181B having an intermediate portion supported onsupport block 181C and having an adjustably positioned weight 181D onits lower end. The card is thus indexed and rests over the rectangularopening in die plate 171 for the card-aperturing operation, suchaperturing being accomplished by movement of the punch member 172,having its lower face hollowed and with angled relief defines fourcutting edges which cooperate with the four side edges of the opening tocut out a portion of the card.

The die plate 171 is secured within a recessed portion of the die-platesupporting frame 174 which is mounted on the support block 175 securedto the frame plate 63. The supporting frame 174 is provided with anupper slotted portion 176 serving as a guide for the card and has anapertured stripping plate 177 mounted thereon for stripping theapertured card from the punch 172 when and as the punch is being raisedor retracted.

The punch 172 is mounted on its holder 178 which is mounted forrectilinear guided movement on the two stationary posts 179, whichextend into and are stationarily mounted with base block 175 to framemember 63. The base block 175 and frame member 63 are apertured to allowthe cutout card portion to drop out and away from the punching area. Thepunch holder 178 is connected to the lower end of a reciprocable rod 180by the connection 182 shown that allows some self-alignment between thereciprocable holder 178 on its guides 1 79, and the reciprocable rod 180in its stationary cylindrical bearing 184, the bearing 184 beingstationarily supported by a frame which is partially shown in FIGURE at186.

The upper end of rod 180 is provided with a slotted portion to receivean end of an actuating lever 187 between two spaced rods 189 extendingradially through such slotted portion, the lever 187 being pivoted at apoint intermediate its ends on a stationary bearing bracket 191 for thelever shaft 192 and having its other end connected in similar manner tothe upper end of a reciprocable rod 194 slidably mounted in two spacedbearings 198A, 198B in its stationary bearing support 198. The lower endof rod 194 has adjustably secured thereto a guide block 195 (FIGURES 5and 7) which is slidably mounted in a pair of vertically extending guideplates 196, 197 and which has mounted thereon a cam roller 199 forcooperation with a cam slot 201 within and eccentrically located withrespect to the rotational axis of the circular plate or cam hub 202mounted on shaft 96. The guide plates 196, 197 are adjustably mounted ontwo vertical stationary supporting members 204 and 205 by fasteningbolts 206 and 207. It will be observed that these plates 196, 197 may beadjusted by loosening bolts 206 and 207, loosening the lock nuts 210,211, turning screws 212, 213 and then tightening the nuts 210, 211 andfastening screws 206, 207.

The shaft 96 is supported in two spaced bearing brackets 215, 216,mounts a cam 218 for operation of a pair of switches 219 and 217 onceper revolution of shaft 96 corresponding to one card-punching operationand is driven as described under the caption Drive System.

Web Feed Mechanism The cover sheet ultimately applied to the card issupplied in the form of a tape or web on a reel and such tape or web isa composite tape or web in that it has a coating oftemperature-activated adhesive thereon which is non-adhesive at roomtemperature and while in the feed mechanism. The machine cuts off an endof the tape or web and applies such cut-off portion over the aperturedportion of the card in the presence of heat to activate the adhesive andcause the cut-off portion to be bonded to the card over its aperturedportion as the cover sheet.

The composite tap or web T is supplied from a supply spool or reel 220rotatably supported on the upper ends of a pair of stationary arms 221so that the composite tape or web as shown in FIGURE 6, passes over andaround two idler rollers 224 and 225 and onto the upper surface of asupporting plate 226, which surface is generally arcuate as seen inFIGURES 13 and 22. The roller 225 is crowned or contoured such as tocause the web to have a transverse bow matching generally the surface ofthe supporting plate 226 before the web contacts such surface. To causethe tape to conform to such arcuate surface there is provided a finesoft bristle brush 228, such as used, for example, to dust opticalequipment;

i.e., lens and reflectors, the brush being mounted on a bracket member229 to press the tape or web gently against such surface. The tape orweb after passing under the brush 228 and conforming to such arcuatesurface, slides along such surface and passes between two feed rollers232, 233 which are adapted to engage the tape at a point intermediatethe ends of such supporting plate 226. After the tape or web leaves therollers 232, 233, it continues to conform to the arcuate surface of thesupporting plate 226, and to assure such conformity there is provided anupper plate 235 freely hinged as a cantilever about the shaft 237 ofroller 232 and having a surface complementary with such arcuate surfaceof supporting plate 226 to form a constraining web channel This plate235 separated from the upper surface of the web by a distance ofapproximately a few thousandths of an inch thus provides an element of aconstraining channel and assures conformity of the tape with the arcuatesupport surface and, of course, assures the tape being bowed in crosssection; i.e., a transverse bow is in the tape or web so that when itoverhangs the support 226 as a cantilever in a position ready forcutting as shown in FIGURE 12, its transverse bow results not only in amore rigid overhang but also presents a cross section for progressivecutting of the tape by a straight cutting element moving in a directiongenerally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tape.

The previously mentioned pressure rollers 232, 233, are normallyspring-urged together to assure gripping of the tape therebetween. Inorder to allow initial manual feeding of the tape between such rollers,means are provided for retracting the upper roller 232 and such meansare now described.

The roller 232 has its shaft journalled for rotation in a frame 240which is pivoted about the axis of a horizontal pin 243 and which isnormally spring-urged downwardly by spring 245. To overcome the biasingaction of spring 245 and to lift the frame 240 to its position shown inFIGURE 14, there is provided a pivoted shaft 248 having an offset or camportion thereon cooperating with a slotted portion of frame 240 and suchshaft 248 is manually pivoted by the lever 250 attached thereto. Also,to facilitate initial manual feeding of the tape, the frame 229 carryingthe brush 228 and roller 225 may be pivoted to its position indicated bydotted lines in FIGURE 21. After the initial manual feeding of the tapebetween the rollers 232, 233, the frame 229 and lever 250 are returnedto their normal positions shown in FIGURE 6.

Automatic feeding of the tape is accomplished by driving each of therollers 232, 233. These rollers 232, 233 are driven intermittently by amechanism operated by the continuously rotating shaft 124 which iscoupled to the motor jack shaft as described under the caption DriveSystem.

The shaft 124 is the input shaft of a solenoid-controlled clutch 126having the output shaft 235 which is normally prevented from rotating,as shown in FIGURE 8, by the latch 236 comprising a rotatable portion237 of the clutch and the retractable stop member 238 which is connectedto the solenoid plunger 240, this plunger 240 being springurged byspring 242 to normally position the stop 238, as shown in FIGURE 8, andmay be withdrawn by energizing solenoid 244 to allow the output shaft235 to rotate. The shaft 235 (FIGURE 17) has a crank arm 254 mountedthereon and such crank arm 254 mounts an adjustably positioned bearing256 thereon for one end of a lever 258, the other end of the lever 258being pivotally mounted on an end of an arm 260 on shaft 261 to impartan oscillatory movement of the arm 260 and shaft 261 between adjustablelimits indicated by the designated arc in FIGURES l7 and 18. The tape isadvanced in only one direction of movement of arm 260 and shaft 261 and,for that purpose, the shaft (261) is the input shaft of the one-wayclutch 127 which may take many different forms such as a spring-griptype clutch. As indicated in FIGURES 15 and 16, the output shaft 127Amay be connected to a driven member 127B having cam surfaces cooperatingwith balls 127C for coupling to the casing 127D connected to the inputshaft 261 whereby the output shaft 127A may be rotated intermittentlyand in one direction only. The output shaft 127A mounts a gear 269 and apulley 263, the gear 269 meshing with gear 266 mounted on a shaft 271with pulley 272. The pulley 263 is connected by belt 262 to the pulley275 on the same shaft 276 with tape-engaging roller 233. Likewise, thepulley 272 is connected by belt 278 to the pulley 281 (FIGURE 13) on thesame shaft 237 with tape-engaging roller 232. Thus, the tape or web T isadvanced by rollers 232. 233 for each rotation of the output clutchshaft 235 and the amount of tape or web so advanced may be adjusted byadjustment of the lever bearing 256 on crank arm 254, it being notedthat the bearing 256 is slidably mounted on the arm 254 and has athreaded shank 257 which is releasably secured to the arm 254 by nut 258to secure a precise adjustment of the effective length of the crank arm254 and hence the amount of tape dispensed each operation of the webfeed mechanism.

Web or tape cutting mechanism The means for moving the tape or webcutter is similar to the means used for punching the aperture in thecard, as will be seen from comparing FIGURES 5 and 6, and is operatedwhen a card is arrested by top 16 (FIGURE and engages and operatesswitch 17. The card when it is arrested by the stop 16 is indexed notonly by the stop 16 but also by a pivoted and weighted card guide 181which constructed like the guide 181 at the punch station serves toengage one side edge of the card to urge the opposite side edge of thecard in a stationary guide.

The tape or web cutter is a flexible straight knife 265 cooperating withthe sloped end of the movable tape or web support 226 for cutting orshearing the transverse bowed tape or web at that location; and suchknife 265 is mounted adjacent to a heated platen 267 for movementtherewith, the heated platen serving to move the cut-off tape or webagainst the card and to apply heat to the marginal edges of the cut-offtape or web, which is now the cover sheet, to bond it to the card in aposition overlying the card apertured portion. An electric heatingelement 266 insulated thermally and electrically by insulation 268 fromits supporting structure is incorporated in the platen 267 as well astwo thermostatically operated switches and these are connected asdescribed under the caption Electrical System.

The platen and knife asembly 265, 267 is mounted on the lower end of rod270 which is slidably mounted in the bearing support and which isslotted near its upper end to receive one end of lever 274 between apair of pins or rods 275 on such rod 270. The lever 274 is afiixed to ashaft 276 which is journalled for rotation with the other end of thelever 274 being received bet-ween a pair of pins or rods 278 extendingthrough a slotted portion of the upper end of rod 279 which is slidablymounted in spaced bearings in the bearing support 280. The lower end ofrod 279 has adjustably mounted thereon a bearing block 282 slidablymounted in guide plates as in FIGURE 5, and such bearing block 282mounts a cam roller 284 cooperating with an eccentric cam slot 285 inthe face of the cam hub or plate 286 mounted on shaft 88. The shaft 88also mounts a pair of cams 287, 288 cooperating respectively withswitches 289 and 290 for operating the same once per revolution of shaft88; i.e., once per card-cutting and cover sheet applying operation. Theshaft 88 is driven as described under the caption Drive System.

Rotatable with shaft 88 is a disc 293 mounting an adjustable dog 294which, once per shaft revolution, engages a roller 296 on the lower endof lever 297, pivoted on shaft 298, to cause the upper end of lever 297to engage a pin 300 on the tape support 226 to cause the tape support226 to slide to the right in FIGURE 6 against the action ofcoil-compression springs 302 which normally urge such support 226against the stationary abutment 304. These springs 302 are on rods 306which extend through the abutment 304 and each have one of their endsengaging the abutment and the other one of their ends seated against anenlarged head on rods 306 as, for example, an adjusting nut.

This slight movement imparted by lever 297 to the tape support 226 aftereach cutting and bonding operation, as indicated in FIGURE 19, resultsin relative movement between the tape which, on the one hand, is clampedbetween rollers 232 and 233 and the tape support 226 on the other hand.This feature assures the breaking of any bond, however slight, betweenthe tape and the downstream end of the tape support which may haveresulted from the heat developed during cutting by the cutter 265 or theheat transferred thereto from the heated platen 267, or the pressureapplied by plate 269.

The tape support 226 is slidably mounted for an additional reason since,as seen in FIGURE 20, it has a sloped outer end which is progressivelymoved to the left by the cutter 265 against the action of the previouslymentioned springs 302 during the cutting operation.

To assure that the tape or web does not creep or buckle during thecutting action, a plate 269 is slidably mounted on one side surface ofplaten 267 such that when the platen-knife assembly is lowered the lowerarcuate edge 269A of plate 269 normally spaced from the tape support226, engages the tape or web and holds it on the support 226 just priorto and during the cutting and heating operations and also when suchplaten-knife assembly is being raised. For this purpose, the plate 269,a weighted member, is provided with a pair of ear portions 269B at itsupper corners for engagement with a corresponding one of a pair ofL-shaped guide and stop bracket members 267A mounted on platen 267. Thisplate 269 thus serves not only as a clamping member which holds the tapeor web on the support during web cutting but also as a stripper elementin that during withdrawal of the platen-knife assembly the web is stillbeing clamped to prevent the uncut portion of the Web following upwardmovement of this platen-knife assembly. Near the upper limit of travelof this assembly the bracket members engage the plate ears 269B to raisethe plate 269 and space its lower arcuate edge 269A above the path ofweb feed to allow a subsequent web feeding operation.

After the tape or web is cut, the cut-off portion is pressed by theheated platen 267 (FIGURE 22) against the spring-urged plate 299 whichhas guide slots 301 for the apertured card CA and which is urgedupwardly by compression springs 303 against the frame 305 bolted to thestationary support 307. This construction augments the dwell of cam 286and provides controlled pressure in the bonding operation during whichthe springs 303 are compressed further as the heated platen 267 pressesthe cut-off tape portion, now the cover sheet, over the card aperturedportion.

This plate 299 may be provided with apertured portions 299A to allow theescape of air therethrough to prevent the possibility of entrapped aircausing the cover sheet to shift before bonding.

It will also be seen in FIGURE 22 that the tape support 266 is providedwith longitudinally extending spaced guides 226B and 226C for assuringguided movement of the tape and, as seen in FIGURE 21, preferably suchsupport 226 is provided with longitudinally extending grooved portionsfor lessening contact area and thus friction between the tape and itssupport 226.

As indicated in FIGURE 10, the cam slot 285 at the cover sheet applyingstation is provided with two diametrically opposed circular sections285A, and the cam slot 201 is provided with a single circular section201A, each extending along the circumference of a circle having thecenter of rotation as its center to provide dwell at each extreme end oftravel in the case of the knife-platen assembly and only dwell at thetop of the stroke of the punch assembly such that while the cam plates286 and 202 may rotate through the indicated 60 sectors, there is nocorresponding vertical movement of the corresponding assembly in thosesectors.

Timer mechanism The timer mechanism 82 is driven by the shaft 113 and,as described previously, the timer shaft 113 is rotated simultaneouslywith that shaft 35 which is effective to dispense cards one at a timefrom the supply hopper 10. In other words, both the timer 82 and thecard-dispensing mechanism are controlled by a single clutch; namely, theclutch 77. Mounted on the timer shaft 113 are four cams 324, 328, 332and 336. The cam 324 is a dwell-type cam having its lobe operating theswitches 321 and 322 such that when the lobe closes the switch 322, theswitch 321 is opened. The cam 328 is a dwell-type cam with the dwellportion allowing the switch 326 to close. The cam 332 is a dwell-typecam with the dwell portion allowing the switch 330 to close. The cam 336is a dwell-type cam with its dwell portion allowing the switch 334 toclose. The function of these switches and their connections is describedunder the next caption Electrical System.

Electrical system The overall operation of the machine may be explainedwith reference to the electrical circuit diagram of FIG- URE 23 whichincludes input terminal 400, 401 for a l15-volt A.C. source 402.Connected across terminals 400, 401 in a series circuit are aself-latching manually operable open-or-olf switch 403 for connectingterminal 401 to terminal 405, a manually operated momentary type pushbutton switch 404 which is closed only when a manual force is appliedthereto; three anti-jam cardoperated switches 406, 407, and 408, each ofwhich are normally closed and operated to an open position by a cardwhen there is a deformed, i.e., non-flat card or more than one cardadjacent such switches, and a relay coil 409. The relay coil 409 whenenergized by closing switch 404 closes its associated normally openrelay switches 409A and 409B to connect, respectively, terminal 405 toterminal 410 to thereby apply the voltage from source 402 between thetwo lines 412, 413, and to hold the circuit of the start switch 404 tothereby continue to maintain coil 409 energized.

The switches 403 and 404 are mechanically interlocked such that when themomentary switch 404 is pushed, switch 403 is unlatched and is allowedto assume its closed position; and when the switch 403 is manuallyoperated it latches in its open position.

For convenience in referencing, the following nomenclature is used todesignate a relay coil and the associated switch or switches operatedthereby. A coil has a numerical reference numeral such as, for example,the coil 409 and the switches operated thereby have the same referencenumber with a letter appended thereto; namely, the switches operated bycoil 409 are designated as 409A, 409B.

The driving motor 62 is thus energized when relay switch 409A is closedand its driven jack shaft rotates to establish the five conditions setforth under the caption Drive System, among which is that the cardtransport rollers 23, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 now rotate.

The heater 266 in the platen punch for the web material is connected inseries with the normally closed thermostat switch 417 in such platenacross lines 412, 413 so as to maintain a substantially constanttemperature of the platen for cover sheet bonding purposes.

A second thermostat switch 418, also mounted in such platen, isconnected in series with a relay coil 419 across lines 412, 413 and thisswitch 418 is closed only for temperatures below a predeterminedthreshold temperature, this threshold temperature being lower than theadhesive material platen operating temperature with this switch 418serving to prevent certain operations until such threshold temperatureis reached as a result of heating by heater 266.

It is noted that the relay coil 419 when energized, opens its associatednormally closed relay switch 419A and closes its normally open switch419B, the former being used to condition a timing circuit and the latterbeing used to energize an indicating light 420. Thus lamp 420 isenergized only when the machine is warming up and serves as anindication when energized that the machine requires further heating.

This relay switch 419A is in a series circuit with four othercircuit-conditioning switches 147, 320, 325 and 352 between terminals427, 428, each of these four switches being responsive to variousdesired conditions so as to be closed only when certain desiredconditions prevail but are otherwise opened. Such desired conditionsmay, for example, be the presence of a card in the card-supply hopper10, the over-abundance of cards in the discharge hopper 13 or otherconditions involving the disposition of cards in the machine. The switch147 is at the cardfeed hopper 10, the switch 320 is at the collectionhopper 13, and the switch 325 is opened when the card collection hopper13 is pivoted to open position. The switch 352 is opened when no webmaterial is present for feeding.

Between terminal 427 and line 412 is a momentary type push button switch429 which is closed only when manual force is applied thereto and whichis referred to as the card-feed switch; and between terminal 428 and theother line 413 are two parallel connected relay coils 431 and 432. Relaycoil 431 when energized, closes its associated normally open switch431A, a circuit holding switch connected in parallel with push buttonswitch 429, and also closes the normally open relay switch 431B toenergize the timer clutch 77 to thereby (a) initiate operation of thecard-feed mechanism and (b) start rotation of the four timing cams inthe timer 82 and thus a card is dispensed from the hopper 10 and ismoved by the continuously rotating rollers 23 and 18 into engagementwith stop 15 where the card awaits a card-punching operation. The otherrelay coil 432 operable to actuate its relay switches 432A, 432B whenenergized, closes its associated relay switch 432A which is connected ina series circuit with a manually operated push button switch 436 and arelay coil 438 between lines 412, 413 to condition this circuit. Coil432 when energized opens a relay switch 432B to prevent opening of thedischarge hopper as described later. Connected between terminals 427 and428 are two switches 322 and 441A, the switch 322 being a cam-operatedswitch in the timer 82 ganged with switch 321, as indicated by thedotted line 443. The switches 321 and 322 are operated by the dwell ofcam 324 such that the dwell opens switch 322 and closes switch 321. Theclosing of switch 322 allows the last card to be dispensed from thehopper 10 but when switch 322 subsequently opens, the condition of theseries circuit between terminals 427, 428 is effectively checked andshould it not be in conducting condition, and if relay switch 441A isopen, the relay coils 431 and 432 are de-energized. The switch 441, inparallel with switch 322, is a relay switch operated by the relay coil441 for purposes described later.

The blanking press control relay having coil 445 has one of itsterminals connected to line 413 and the other one of its terminalsconnected to terminal 446, the terminal 446 being connectable to line412 through a series circuit comprising the timer cam-operated switch326 and card-actuated switch 14 associated with the cardtraversingmechanism. The switch 326 is closed when its actuating element is withinthe dwell of a cam 328 at which time, with switch 14 closed, the relaycoil 445 is energized. The switch 326 is connected in shunt withpress-actuated switch 219 which is allowed to close during the punchingoperation to assure continued energization of coil 445, and after thepunching operation, the switch 219 is opened by the lobe on cam 218. Thepunching operation is accomplished since energization of relay coil 445results in closing of its relay switch 445A to energize the clutch 76 tooperate the punch mechanism and cause operation of the above mentionedswitch 219 after one revolution of the shaft driving the punchmechanism.

The control relay for operating the adhesive material cutter and havingcoil 455 has one of its terminals connected to line 413 and the otherone of its terminals connected to terminals 456, such terminal 456 beingconnectable to the other line 412 through a series circuit comprisingthe timer-controlled switch 330 and card-actuating switch 17 associatedwith the card-traversing mechanism. The switch 330 is closed when itsactuating element is within the dwell of cam 332, at which time withswitch 17 closed, the relay coil 455 is energized. Switch 289 operatedby the cover sheet mounting press, is in shunt with the timer-operatedswitch 330 and is allowed to close during the cutting and adhesivematerial applying operation to assure continued energization of coil455, and after this operation, the switch 289 is opened by the lobe oncam 287. The material applying operation is accomplished sinceenergization of relay coil 455 results in closing of its relay switch455A to energize clutch 79 to operate the cutter mechanism and causeoperation of the above mentioned switch 289 after one revolution of theshaft driving the cutter mechanism. The previously mentioned relay coil441 that operates previously mentioned switch 441A has one of itsterminals connected to line 413 and the other one of its terminalsconnectable to the other line 412 through card-actuating switch 17 atthe adhesive material cutting station which means that the relay coils431 and 432 are assured of being energized as long as a card is at thatstation.

It is noted that during operation of the cover sheet cutter and bonder,the other cam-operated switch 290 is allowed to close and its closureresults in energizing solenoid 244 to cause the clutch 126 to engage andeffect a feeding of tape or web preparatory to such cutting and bonding.The material is fed prior to advancement of the cutter to cuttingposition.

Card-stop solenoids 467, 468 for retracting stops 15 and 16respectively, are each connected in series with the timer-operatedswitch 334 between lines 412, 413 so that when this switch 334 has itsactuating element in the dwell of cam 336, the switch is closed and thestops are released whereby the card may travel further.

An electric counter 471 visible to and resettable by the operator, isconnected in series with the punch pressoperated switch 217 betweenlines 412, 413.

Hopper-release solenoid 340 is connectable between lines 412, 413through a series circuit comprising a manually operated normally openmomentary-type push button switch 474 at the card-discharge hopper, therelay switch 432B, and the previously mentioned timer-operated switch321 so that this hopper may be opened only under certain conditions thatassures a card from being ejected elsewhere when the hopper is opened.When the hopper is open, the hopper witch 325 (corresponding to switch424), is opened to prevent subsequent card feed when also the switches322 and 441A are open. The timer switches 322 and 321 are ganged asindicated such that the timer switch 322 is open when switch 321 isclosed. The switch 441A is open only when there is no card at theweb-cutting station and this latter condition may be obtained bypreventing the transfer of cards; i.e., by energizing the card-raisingsolenoid 163.

For this latter purpose, the previously mentioned relay coil 438, whenenergized by manually closing switch 436, actuates its relay switch 438Ato connect the feed-hopper solenoid 163 between lines 112, 113, thesolenoid 163 16 being for the purpose of preventing the dispensing ofcards as illustrated in FIGURE 10.

When it is desired to open the discharge hopper during those times whenthe machine is conditioned to feed cards, the switch 436 is operated toenergize relay coil 438 and close switch 438A to thereby energize thesolenoid 163 to raise the cards in the supply hopper and open the switch147 at the card-feed hopper. The lack of card feeding results innon-operation of switch 17, and hence the relay coil 441 is de-energizedand its relay switch 441A is open; and when the timer is rotated to openswitch 322 and correspondingly closes switch 321, the relay 432 isde-energized to stop the card-feeding mechanism and to allow switch 432Bto be closed, after which, with switches 432B and 321 closed, manualoperation of the switch 474 results in energization of the hopper-doorsolenoid 340 and the cards may then be removed from such hopper.

In order to again feed cards, the discharge hopper must be closed toclose switch 325, the switch 436 released to allow switch 147 to close,and the switch 429 must be operated.

Preferably, the card-feed mechanism is disabled when there is lack of orbreakage of adhesive tape, and for that purpose, as seen in FIGURE 6,when this condition exists, the spring-urged roller 352A is allowed toenter the grooved portion 224A of roller 224 to open switch 352.

The two indicating lamps 420 and 478 are 24-volt lamps connectable,respectively, through switches 4198 and 463 to the secondary winding oftransformer 480 having its primary winding connected between lines 412,413, the switch 4198 being a relay switch and the switch 463 beingoperated at the same time as the previously mentioned switch 352 to openposition when the web material is not present for bonding operations.

The three magnetic clutches 77, 76 and 79 are operated withapproximately volts DC and are connectable through corresponding relayswitches 431B, 445A and 455A to the DC. output terminals of a fullwaverectifier 485 having its AC. input terminals connected to lines 412,413. A filter capacitor 486 is connected across such output terminalsand capacitors 488, 489, 490 to shunt clutch windings 77, 76 and 79,respectively, for spark suppression at the corresponding relay switches431B, 445A and 455A.

It will be seen that this machine produces an electric accountingmachine type business card having a rectangular apertured portioncovered by a cover sheet, with the cover sheet being a thin film ofdimensionally stable material having a temperature activated adhesivecoated on one side thereof; i.e., that side which is immediatelyadjacent the card. Such adhesive secures the cover sheet to the card andmay be used to adhesively secure a section of film or other informationmedia within the apertured portion of the card.

It will be seen that the machine is capable of preparing only one card;i.e., the presence of more than one card is not necessary to completeone card. Also, the machine is not restricted to use with a card of aparticular thickness, width or length asince adjustments areincorporated for accommodating different size cards. These adjustmentsinvolve adjustment of the card exit opening at the feed hopper byadjusting plate 142A, the adjustment of the tension on leaf springs 169,and adjustment of anti-jam switches 406, 407 and 408.

It will also be apparent that a card may be prepared with two coveredapertured portions by running the same card through the machine twotimes, reverse direction.

Also, the machine may be modified relatively simply to provide differentsized card apertures covered with a cover sheet, this involving changingthe punch die set, the bonding platen and the tape or web feed trough.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have beenshown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described wherein it is desired toprocess cards, the combination including: first card processing means ata first station; second card processing means at a second station; meansat said first station and responsive to the presence of a card foroperating said first means; and means at said second station andresponsive to the presence of a card for operating said second means;continuously operating card conveying means continuously effective toconvey a card resting thereon to said first and second stations;individual card stop means at each of said stations for engagng andarresting the movement of a card on said conveying means at acorresponding station such that when a card is so arrested saidcontinuously operating conveying means continues to move under the cardresting thereon; means for feeding cards to said conveying means; andmeans operated in time relationship with said card conveying means foroperating each of said stop means simultaneously.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said first cardprocessing means includes means for aperturing the card; and said secondcard processing means includes means for applying a cover sheet on andover that portion of the card apertured by said aperturing means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which each of said operatingmeans includes an electric switch engaged and actuated by a card.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said applying meansincludes web feeding and cutting means for feeding and cutting webmaterial from which said cover sheet is derived.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1, including movable cardreceiving means in a first position thereof receiving cards from saidconveying means after passage through said stations, said card receivingmeans being movable to a second position, means preventing saidreceiving means from moving to said second position, disabling meansrendering said preventing means ineffective, and means responsive to thepresence of a card at said applying station for preventing operation ofsaid disabling means.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, including second disablingmeans rendering said card feeding means ineffective to feed cards, andmeans operated when said card receiving means is moved from said firstposition to said second position for operating said second disablingmeans.

7. The combination set forth in claim 2, including card feeding means,means for operating said aperturing means in timed relationship withsaid card feeding means, and means for operating said applying means intimed relationship with said card feeding means.

8. In a machine of the character described wherein it is desired toaperture a card to provide an apertured portion therein and to apply acover sheet to said card extending within said apertured portion, thecombination including: a driving motor, a jack shaft coupled to androtated by said motor, card aperturing means at an aperturing station, afirst one-revolution shaft for operating said aperturing means, firstclutch means for coupling said jack shaft to said first shaft, webcutting and applying means at an applying station, a secondone-revolution shaft for operating said cutting and applying means,second clutch means for coupling said jack shaft to said second shaft,card feeding means, timing means, third clutch means for couplingjointly said feeding means and said timing means to said jack shaft,card conveying means for conveying cards from said feeding means to, inturn, said aperturing station and said cutting and applying station,said conveying means being coupled to said jack shaft, first controlmeans controlled by said timing means for selectively operating saidfirst clutch means and effective when operated to produce one revolutionof said first shaft, second control means controlled by said timingmeans for selectively operating said second clutch means and effectivewhen operated to produce one revolution of said second shaft, conditionsensing means, and third control means controlled by said conditionsensing means for operating said third clutch means.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which said condition sensingmeans includes a switch operated in response to the presenc of cardsavailable for feeding by said feeding means.

10. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which said condition sensingmeans includes a switch operated in response to the total weight ofcards conveyed by said conveying means.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said conditionsensing means includes a switch operated in response to a temperaturecondition at said applying station.

12. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said timing meansincludes a first switch, said condition sensing means includes a secondswitch connected in shunt with said first switch.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12 wherein a third switch isconnected in shunt with said first and second switches, and meansresponsive to the presence of a card at said applying station foroperating said third switch.

14. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which said first controlmeans includes a switch operated in response to the presence of a cardat said aperturing station, and said second control means includes aswitch operated in response to the presence of a card at said applyingstation, first stop means at said aperturing station for arresting themovement of a card, second stop means at said applying station forarresting the movement of a card and means controlled by said timingmeans for disabling said first and second stop means substantiallysimultaneously to allow cards to travel past said stations.

15. The combination set forth in claim 8, including an anti-jam switchresponsive to a condition of a card and controlling rotation of saidjack shaft.

16. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which said jack shaft isadapted for manual turning whereby slow manual turning of the jack shaftresults in slow movement of the card conveying means.

17. The combination set forth in claim 8, including web feeding meansfor feeding a web to said cutting and applying means, fourth clutchmeans for coupling said web feeding means to said jack shaft, and saidtiming means controlling said fourth clutch means.

18. The combination set forth in claim 12, including movable cardreceiving means for receiving cards from said conveying means afterpassage from said applying station in a first position of said receivingmeans, said receiving means being movable to a second position, meanspreventing movement of said receiving means from said first to saidsecond position, disabling means for rendering said preventing meansineffective, and said timing means including a switch mechanicallyinterlocked with said first switch and controlling said disabling means.

19. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein cam means interconnectsaid first shaft and said aperturing means, and said cam meansincorporates a dwell that results in said aperturing means beingstationary during portion of one revolution of said first shaft.

20. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein cam means interconnectsaid second shaft and said applying means, and said cam meansincorporates dwells that result in said applying means being stationaryduring portions of one revolution of said second shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,543 1/1954 Standish 1565 142,158,790 5/1939 Arthur 83-176 2,382,406 8/1945 Engberg 83176 202,641,304 6/1953 Biddinger et a1. 156518 3,067,805 12/1962 Flynn 1561083,197,353 6/1965 Williams et a1. 156521 DOUGLAS I. DRUMMOND, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R.

